Canadian police have issued a warning to an aide of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was assassinated in British Columbia last year, due to increased threats against his life. Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a prominent Sikh separatist, revealed on Tuesday that authorities in Ontario, in collaboration with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), have provided Inderjeet Singh Gosal with a “duty to warn” notice.
Gosal, who was an aide to Nijjar at the time of his killing in June 2023, received the warning this week. Nijjar’s assassination has sparked significant controversy, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in September 2023 citing credible allegations of potential Indian government involvement. The Canadian police have since charged four individuals in connection with the murder. India, however, has denied any role in the incident.
Adding to the tension, the FBI is currently investigating a drive-by shooting on August 11 that targeted a California activist closely associated with Nijjar. The US Federal Bureau of Investigation is examining the case as part of a broader investigation into possible threats against Sikh separatists.
India has accused Canada of providing refuge to Sikh separatists advocating for the creation of Khalistan, an independent state to be carved out of Punjab, India. In response to the threats, Gosal said, “I’ve been informed by Canadian officials about the threats to my life. However, my commitment to the liberation of Punjab from Indian occupation remains unwavering.”
Neither the RCMP nor Ontario police were available for immediate comment. The office of Canadian Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc, who oversees law enforcement, declined to provide a statement.
In a related development, in June 2023, the FBI thwarted an alleged assassination attempt on Pannun, with Indian national Nikhil Gupta charged for attempting to orchestrate the murder under the direction of an Indian intelligence official.
Gosal, who was an aide to Nijjar at the time of his killing in June 2023, received the warning this week. Nijjar’s assassination has sparked significant controversy, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in September 2023 citing credible allegations of potential Indian government involvement. The Canadian police have since charged four individuals in connection with the murder. India, however, has denied any role in the incident.
Adding to the tension, the FBI is currently investigating a drive-by shooting on August 11 that targeted a California activist closely associated with Nijjar. The US Federal Bureau of Investigation is examining the case as part of a broader investigation into possible threats against Sikh separatists.
India has accused Canada of providing refuge to Sikh separatists advocating for the creation of Khalistan, an independent state to be carved out of Punjab, India. In response to the threats, Gosal said, “I’ve been informed by Canadian officials about the threats to my life. However, my commitment to the liberation of Punjab from Indian occupation remains unwavering.”
Neither the RCMP nor Ontario police were available for immediate comment. The office of Canadian Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc, who oversees law enforcement, declined to provide a statement.
In a related development, in June 2023, the FBI thwarted an alleged assassination attempt on Pannun, with Indian national Nikhil Gupta charged for attempting to orchestrate the murder under the direction of an Indian intelligence official.
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